Sree

Sree, often written Sri or Shri, is a transliteration of the Sanskrit honorific Śrī (श्री). The term denotes auspiciousness, wealth, prosperity, beauty, and sacredness, and is used as a respectful prefix in Hindu religious and cultural contexts.

In religious usage, Śrī prefixes the names of deities and sacred figures (for example Śrī Lakṣmī, Śrī Viṣṇu) and appears in temple names, liturgy, and devotional literature. In secular speech, it functions as a courtesy title before a person’s name, similar to Mr. or Sir in English, but carrying a sense of reverence.

Spelling variants include Sri, Shri, and Shree, reflecting different transliteration conventions across Indian languages. The prefix is widespread across the Indian subcontinent and in the diaspora, and it also appears in geographical names (for example Sri Lanka) and in corporate and brand names.

Beyond an honorific, Śrī is associated with prosperity and blessing; in some contexts it is personified as the goddess Śrī Lakṣmī, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

In contemporary use, Sree/Sri/Shri appears as a given name or surname in parts of South Asia and among South Asian communities worldwide.